Atmosphere vs. Weather — What's the Difference?

An atmosphere (from the greek words ἀτμός (atmos), meaning 'vapour', and σφαῖρα (sphaira), meaning 'ball' or 'sphere') is a layer or a set of layers of gases surrounding a planet or other material body, that is held in place by the gravity of that body. An atmosphere is more likely to be retained if the gravity it is subject to is high and the temperature of the atmosphere is low.

Weather is the state of the atmosphere, describing for example the degree to which it is hot or cold, wet or dry, calm or stormy, clear or cloudy. On Earth, most weather phenomena occur in the lowest layer of the planet's atmosphere, the troposphere, just below the stratosphere.

The gaseous mass or envelope surrounding a celestial body, especially the one surrounding the earth, and retained by the celestial body's gravitational field.

The state of the atmosphere at a given time and place, with respect to variables such as temperature, moisture, wind velocity, and barometric pressure.

The air or climate in a specific place.

Adverse or destructive atmospheric conditions, such as high winds or heavy rain

Abbr. atm Physics A unit of pressure equal to the air pressure at sea level. It equals the amount of pressure that will support a column of mercury 760 millimeters high at 0 degrees Celsius under standard gravity, or 14.7 pounds per square inch (1.01325 × 105 pascals).

The unpleasant or destructive effects of such atmospheric conditions

A dominant intellectual or emotional environment or attitude

Weathers Changes of fortune

The dominant tone or mood of a work of art.

To expose to the action of the elements, as for drying, seasoning, or coloring.

An aesthetic quality or effect, especially a distinctive and pleasing one, associated with a particular place

To discolor, disintegrate, wear, or otherwise affect adversely by exposure.

The gases surrounding the Earth or any astronomical body.

To come through (something) safely; survive

The air in a particular place.

To slope (a roof, for example) so as to shed water.

The conditions (such as music, illumination etc.) that can influence the mood felt in an environment.

To pass to windward of (a natural feature) despite adverse weather

The apparent mood felt in an environment.

To gain an advantageous position upwind of (another vessel), as in a race or naval battle.

A unit of measurement for pressure equal to 101325 Pa (symbol: atm)

To show the effects, such as discoloration, of exposure to the elements

Extras in a scene who have no spoken lines.

To withstand the effects of weather

The whole mass of aëriform fluid surrounding the earth; - applied also to the gaseous envelope of any celestial orb, or other body; as, the atmosphere of Mars.

(Nautical) Of or relating to the windward side of a ship; windward.

A supposed medium around various bodies; as, electrical atmosphere, a medium formerly supposed to surround electrical bodies.

Relating to or used in weather forecasting

The pressure or weight of the air at the sea level, on a unit of surface, or about 14.7 lbs. to the sq. inch.

The short term state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, including the temperature, relative humidity, cloud cover, precipitation, wind, etc.

Any surrounding or pervading influence or condition.

Unpleasant or destructive atmospheric conditions, and their effects.

The portion of air in any locality, or affected by a special physical or sanitary condition; as, the atmosphere of the room; a moist or noxious atmosphere.

(nautical) The direction from which the wind is blowing; used attributively to indicate the windward side.

A particular environment or surrounding influence;

A situation.

A unit of pressure: the pressure that will support a column of mercury 760 mm high at sea level and 0 degrees centigrade

(obsolete) A storm; a tempest.

The mass of air surrounding the Earth;

(obsolete) A light shower of rain.

The weather or climate at some place;

Facing towards the flow of a fluid, usually air.

The envelope of gases surrounding any celestial body

To expose to the weather, or show the effects of such exposure, or to withstand such effects.

A distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing;

(by extension) To sustain the trying effect of; to bear up against and overcome; to endure; to resist.

To break down, of rocks and other materials, under the effects of exposure to rain, sunlight, temperature, and air.

(nautical) To pass to windward in a vessel, especially to beat 'round.

(nautical) To endure or survive an event or action without undue damage.

(falconry) To place (a hawk) unhooded in the open air.

The state of the air or atmosphere with respect to heat or cold, wetness or dryness, calm or storm, clearness or cloudiness, or any other meteorological phenomena; meteorological condition of the atmosphere; as, warm weather; cold weather; wet weather; dry weather, etc.

Vicissitude of season; meteorological change; alternation of the state of the air.

Storm; tempest.

A light rain; a shower.

To expose to the air; to air; to season by exposure to air.

Hence, to sustain the trying effect of; to bear up against and overcome; to sustain; to endure; to resist; as, to weather the storm.

To sail or pass to the windward of; as, to weather a cape; to weather another ship.

To place (a hawk) unhooded in the open air.

To undergo or endure the action of the atmosphere; to suffer meteorological influences; sometimes, to wear away, or alter, under atmospheric influences; to suffer waste by weather.

Being toward the wind, or windward - opposed to lee; as, weather bow, weather braces, weather gauge, weather lifts, weather quarter, weather shrouds, etc.

The meteorological conditions: temperature and wind and clouds and precipitation;

Face or endure with courage;

Cause to slope

Sail to the windward of

Change under the action or influence of the weather;

Towards the side exposed to wind